Sub-zero weather bomb could bring snow storms

Look out those winter woollies because it's about to get a whole lot colder thanks to a sub-zero weather bomb.

The possibility of snow in some parts of the country is also on the cards.

Forecasters say it will get colder towards the second half of the week, when Ireland will be hit by the cold.

There were highs of more than 10C over the weekend, and the weather is likely to remain the same nationwide until Wednesday evening.

However, Met Eireann predicts that an Arctic blast will plunge temperatures to a low of -3C from Thursday morning.

"From Monday to Wednesday, temperatures will remain quite pleasant for this time of the year," said Met Eire- ann meteorologist Vincent O'Neill.

"But on Wednesday night there's going to be heavy rain countrywide and, when it clears, there will be a notable change in temperatures.

Patchy

"A much colder air mass will then take charge from Thursday morning.

"It will be very cold and get progressively colder going into Friday."

Mr O'Neill added that the north-west of the country will be the hardest hit.

"It will get very cold in these parts of Ireland, with temperatures dropping to -3C at night," he said. "There will be wintry showers consisting of hail and snow, but it looks like Dublin won't be hit too hard compared to the north-west."

The forecast for Dublin today is that it will be mostly cloudy with some patchy drizzle and mist.

However, Met Eireann said there will also be some bright or sunny intervals.

Highest temperatures of 8C to 10C with light westerly breezes are forecast for today.

Meanwhile, Britain is braced for its coldest December in seven years, with freezing conditions set to bring snow and winds gusting up to nearly 100kph to certain parts this week.